Date: 23 May 1944

MISSION #24

BASE: Castelluccio dei Sauri

TARGET: Road Junction at Subiaco, Italy--Troop Support

SHIP: Jesse James …808

ESCORT: P-51’s and P-38’s

BOMBS: 10 x 500 lb. General Purpose from 19,000 feet

ENEMY AIRCRAFT: none

FLAK:  Moderate Volume, Accurate Aim, Medium Caliber at Pescara (5 Guns)

RESULT: Twelve aircraft dropped on primary target and twenty-five dropped on secondary target at Avezzano. Numerous hits on large building, blast damage in residential area, factory and probably damaged Maglini. Hits in town.

SORTIES: 1 Total: 33

MISSION TIME: 4:00 Total: 157:45

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NARRATIVE: Our mission was in support of the front line ground forces in Italy who were pushing the enemy northward. The target was a highway junction at the foot of steep hill in a deep narrow valley.  Ground maps had to be used instead of target charts.  Crossing over a series of mountain ridges, the Group found its target despite an eight-tenths under cast. We did some poor bombing--missed the road and hit everything else.